asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he proposes to restrict the area of the tobacco crop this year, and, if so, what total acreage does he propose to allow, and how does he propose to allocate it to applicants for tobacco growing licences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Area of Tobacco Crop.
The question whether the area of the tobacco crop to be grown this year will be restricted will depend on the extent to which applications for licences to grow tobacco are received. It is not proposed to permit the growing of tobacco this year to an extent greatly in excess of the quantity grown last year. In the event of restriction being found necessary, regard will be had to the suitability of the applicants and the facilities at their disposal for the growing and curing of tobacco on a commercial basis.
Is it intended to restrict the area which the person grew last year? If a farmer grew two acres last year is it proposed to restrict that area this year?
It may be necessary. I cannot say.
Is it proposed to do it?
No, unless it is absolutely necessary.
What does the Minister mean by "absolutely necessary"? One of his own statements last year as to the persons who would get growing licences was the suitability of the applicant. If a grower last year made a success of the business, grew the right and suitable sort of tobacco and did all that was required and had a satisfactory crop, is he to be restricted?
Will the Minister say why there should be any restriction on the growing of tobacco? If tobacco growing is a gold mine, why not have the whole country growing it?
It would not be a gold mine if everybody grew it. It may be necessary to limit the area grown by any one person. In that case certain people who grew fairly large areas last year must be reduced.
If there is restriction, will it be on the area of any particular grower rather than a limitation on the number of growers? Might we have an assurance on that?
On both.
Can we have an assurance that there will be no political restrictions?
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
Out of the Minister's non-reply.
Question 18.